04/02/12

James Moody Democracy of Jazz Festival Announced for New Jersey

Christian McBride to serve as artistic adviser; Sarah Vaughan vocal competition also announced

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), in Newark, N.J., and N.J.-based radio station WBGO Jazz 88.3FM have announced that they will inaugurate the James Moody Democracy of Jazz Festival, in honor of the late saxophonist James Moody. Bassist and composer Christian McBride serves as artistic adviser to the festival, which will take place October 15-21 at the Arts Center and various community-based venues.

Atael Weissman

Christian McBride

The Moody Festival is highlighted by two concerts: For Love of Moody: A Jazz Celebration featuring George Benson, the Manhattan Transfer, David Sanborn and others, and Miles Davis and Gil Evans: Still Ahead, an all-star recreation of the original Gil Evans arrangements of the classic Miles Davis recordings of Porgy and Bess, Sketches of Spain and Miles Ahead, featuring trumpeters Terence Blanchard and Sean Jones and others.

In addition to the headliner concerts, the festival will also feature the inauguration of the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition, and the world premiere of a new jazz musical for children, Magic Tree House: A Night in New Orleans based on the children’s books by Mary Pope Osborne.

A donation will be made by the Festival to the CFNJ James Moody Jazz Scholarship Fund for Newark Youth.

Additional community events in and around Newark, as well as complete details on the Sarah Vaughan International Jazz Vocal Competition will be announced in May when NJPAC unveils its full 2012-13 season.

Tickets for the Festival, available now, may be purchased by telephone at 1-888-GO-NJPAC (1-888-466-5722), at the NJPAC Box Office at One Center Street in downtown Newark (open Tuesday-Saturday, noon to 6pm, and Sunday, noon to 5pm), or online at NJPAC.

Information on the comprehensive Festival lineup will be announced as part of NJPAC's 2012-13 season lineup in May.